Martin Thomas race crew?

[Jeff Barley]

Looking to contact any of Martins crew from the late 60's - early 70's, especially those who worked on his camaros.. Hoping they can shed some light on my silver / blue 67 ex-T/A camaro and his original blue camaro with twin white stripes ..
Anyone out there can help?

[petestenning]

Hi Jeff,

I worked on the Group 2 Camaro for one season when it was in Ovaltine colours, and part time with the Group 1 Z28 that was sold to Gerry Marshall.

If i can be of any help to you.?

Pete

[Jeff Barley]

Hi Pete.. Thanks for the quick reply!.. i'm sure you'll be able to help..

First of all can I ask if you are aware of my car.. its a 1st generation 67 camaro that was imported into the UK in the early 70's (not yet sure on the date).. It was supposedly owned by "Curley Coachworks" (Ring any bells?) but was put straight into storage (a London Lockup) when it arrived.. The car is / was silver with twin blue stripes on the bonnet (z28 style).. The car was found by Rob Potter in the late 70's as a "turn-key racer under a dust sheet" and he went on to race it in ASCAR.. winning the series in the first season and then wiping the rear off at Paddock Hill the next year.. The car then went into storage again.. The car had lightweight panels; sand filled rocker covers; period 4 wheel disc brake conversion; shortened A-arms; Holman Moody fuel filler; seam welded front clip; american instruments; M22 box and either a traco or a Bartz engine when it arrived..lots of other interesting bits that make it "period correct"
We don't believe the car actually raced in the UK before Rob found it, but the car has all the hallmarks as being an ex-TransAm car.. I have a pretty good idea as to which car it is but would like to independently establish the history of the car on this side of the pond before I link the two..
Its possible that there is a connection with a guy called Jerry Mahoney who may have somthing to do with fibreglass
Martin obviously had a "few" camaros and I'm pretty sure that this one didn't go through his hands.. Any light that you can throw on the above would be really appreciated!

[petestenning]

The Ovaltine car is shown on 100 great sporting moments and is on here if it helps at all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY5zdnGvT0c&NR


The race is in 2 parts , the only thing i can remember is it had a Holman Moody transmission and at the time illegal air ducts to the diff did i say that .

Also it had drill holes in both bonnet hinges where the metal had been removed, only the rules said it must have its original hinges open to different interpretation.

I am digging for any further info i can find made more difficult by the fact my father who also was one of Martins mechanics at his garage in Biggleswade is now dead , so i cant ask him he would have known more.

The other Camaro you mention the the Blue car i remember seeing at Snetterton but that was not in my time .

Pete

[Jeff Barley]

Cheers Pete.. The race at Crystal Palace is a classic.. Do you recall which of Martins cars became the Ovaltine car and what happened to it at the end of 71?.. I believe I know but it would be good to have it verified by someone who was actually part of the team!?..

The Blue camaro I mentioned did indeed appear briefly at Snett and also (earlier) at Brands, but then seems to have dissapeared.. This is obviously not to be confused with the Wiggins Teape car.. I'm just intrigued as to where it went because the trail has gone cold.. Any ideas?

[petestenning]

Niether Camaro was indeed the Wiggins Teape car of Brian Muir.
I dont know the were abouts of Martins Chief mechanic who worked at his Luton branch, but i will make enquiries as i am off work this week and see what i can dig up.

Regards,
Pete.

[GORDON STREETER]

Jeff I know that Martin used the Ovaltine Camero in the support race at the 1971 GP at Siverstone I think Yogi won and Martin was 2nd. Also I seem to remember a certain P Baldwin in there somewhere in his Mini !

[petestenning]

Martin also finished 3rd at Brands Hatch in an epic dice with Dave Matthews Capri & Frank Gardners SCA Camaro.

Yogi Muir had lead from the off, with Dave second then Frank & Martin, however the Capri was leaking oil and was covering Franks screen so he allowed Martin by so he got the oil. Then when the Capri finally packed up Frank retook second again leaving Martin to drive with an oily screen.


Pete

[Jeff Barley]

Thanks Gordon!.. I thought that was the case but didn't know for sure!
BTW.. pass my regards to dave Faircloth when you see him next!?

[Dan Rear]

Did Brian Morris 'up north' have the Emms Camaro after Doug ?

[petestenning]

Dont know if this has been answered on another thread but you mentioned Jerry Mahoney, is this the guy who ran the AQUARTI ? spelling RS 500 Cosworth in the BTCC.?

And while i remember could Thomas's Ovaltine car have come from Roy Pierpoint.?



Pete

[Jeff Barley]

Thanks pete.. I have tracked that "mahoney" but don't think its the same guy...
Re the pierpoint car.. The original pierpoint car was writteb off at +ulton park (pierpooint broke his nose in the crash).. What was not widely known was that thee car was rebuilt using the mike kearon camaro which was an ex-transam car (of bobby brown) .. That rebuilt car became the gardner car that went to auss'.. Was owned by forum member "camaroz" and has since been bought by bill withy here in the uk and has beeb shipped back to the uk..

Originally Posted by petestenning

Dont know if this has been answered on another thread but you mentioned Jerry Mahoney, is this the guy who ran the AQUARTI ? spelling RS 500 Cosworth in the BTCC.?

And while i remember could Thomas's Ovaltine car have come from Roy Pierpoint.?



Pete

[Jeff Barley]

Hi Dan... You are correct..thanks for making that connection..

Originally Posted by Dan Rear

Did Brian Morris 'up north' have the Emms Camaro after Doug ?

[bobr]

I drove Les Lestons Camaro in 73 raced my own from 74 on drastically modified it for Ascar ( killed it ). Pierpoint raced for Bill Shaw I will ask him about this car tomorrow, he is away till then his 76 birthday yesterday. Most of Camaro racers are still about Stuart Graham Richard Loyd John Fletcher Derek Brunt even Les.

[Jeff Barley]

Hi bob!... Do you mean bill or roy are still around?.. If so you will be able to help me fill in a few gaps in my camaro files
Have sent you a private message by the way..

Originally Posted by bobr

I drove Les Lestons Camaro in 73 raced my own from 74 on drastically modified it for Ascar ( killed it ). Pierpoint raced for Bill Shaw I will ask him about this car tomorrow, he is away till then his 76 birthday yesterday. Most of Camaro racers are still about Stuart Graham Richard Loyd John Fletcher Derek Brunt even Les.

[GORDON STREETER]

Jeff I forgot to say, The Camaro of John Shoesmith in the Heritage is I belive an ex Yogi car. But I don't know how "original" it is as we all know you could build a car up from an original part of the said car. With a fully documented car you have a better chance, although it very rarely tells the whole story .
I know John quiet well and will ask him about it at the next meeting.

[Jeff Barley]

Hi gordon... Delicate subject, but assuming that yogi only had one camaro and that that camaro was the wt camaro which went to terry sanger and that was the car that went back to the us then i wouldn't like to comment on what is running in the heritage series..and what went back to the us had the correct verified vin number..

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

Jeff I forgot to say, The Camaro of John Shoesmith in the Heritage is I belive an ex Yogi car. But I don't know how "original" it is as we all know you could build a car up from an original part of the said car. With a fully documented car you have a better chance, although it very rarely tells the whole story .
I know John quiet well and will ask him about it at the next meeting.

[Farbrooke]

Not mentioned is the 71 Gp1 SS (same as Z28) ex works car hand built in Detroit for the French where preparation undertaken by Henri Greder and amoungst other events raced in 24 hour Spa by Marie-Claude Beamont / Gabriel Konig then purchased by Gabriel and raced with great sucess in UK, Ireland, Guyana and Barbados in 72 before she sold the car to Martin Thomas - Gabriel last saw the car at Brands in 73 when it was beige in colour and driven by Gerry Marshal smoking badly!

[GBRM]

Originally Posted by Farbrooke

Not mentioned is the 71 Gp1 SS (same as Z28) ex works car hand built in Detroit for the French where preparation undertaken by Henri Greder and amoungst other events raced in 24 hour Spa by Marie-Claude Beamont / Gabriel Konig then purchased by Gabriel and raced with great sucess in UK, Ireland, Guyana and Barbados in 72 before she sold the car to Martin Thomas - Gabriel last saw the car at Brands in 73 when it was beige in colour and driven by Gerry Marshall smoking badly!

That must be the Camaro I mentioned above.

[Dan Rear]

I guess you may be Bob Ridgard??

I recall the Prodsaloon races from 74-75, when there were some brilliant Camaro races up front, with you, Derrick Brunt, Malcolms Kay & West, Brians Rice & Pepper, Roger Payne, John Brindley etc. Some great dices, a different car/driver seemed to win every week. They weren't 'staged' were they !!

[bobr]

It would have been alot easier if we had staged the races, frantic, and they killed off Camaros to make BL and Ford happy. I still race a Camaro the Tim Boles 68 550 hp 600 lbs torque, nice.

[COLIN STUBBS]

Heres another old Camaro pic from the 70s.Joe Russell??

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...ellmallory.jpg

Sorry about the quality guys but its from a slide taken when I was a boy!

[petestenning]

When you return Jeff there is a PM for you with the info you required.

Pete

[Jeff Barley]

Hi Colin.. thanks for posting the pic.;. that is obviously the former Muir car (see the "CAB" registration on the bonnet).. I do not know the name "Joe Russell" and thats the first time I have seen it connected to this camaro.. Can you add any further details of his connection (assuming there is one?)

Originally Posted by COLIN STUBBS

Heres another old Camaro pic from the 70s.Joe Russell??

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...ellmallory.jpg

Sorry about the quality guys but its from a slide taken when I was a boy!

[COLIN STUBBS]

Found the programme from May 18th 1975.Came 5th in special saloon car race.Entrant Geoffrey Nicklen.Driver Joe Russell.....